Revealed: the blueprint for a cycle network in Athlone

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has opened the public consultation process for proposals to develop new cycle networks across 22 counties, forming part of the CycleConnects: Ireland’s Cycle Network programme. This includes an urban cycle networks in Athlone as well as in Mullingar and a county network in the rest of Westmeath and Roscommon.

The Athlone network includes existing greenways, along with proposed primary and secondary routes.

Primary urban routes are seen as high quality cycle routes that can accommodate a high volume of cyclists typical in most urban areas. These will look to feature on major desire lines in town centres and form radial and orbital cycle routes in the major towns and cities.

The inter urban routes are on-road cycle routes to link all key settlements and destinations outside urban areas both within the county and into adjacent counties. These may have potential to provide off-road/segregated routes parallel to the existing road in later years.

The proposed Athlone urban network (see map) is comprised of primary orbital routes in the centre of the town along streets such as Southern Station Road, Garden Vale, Church Street, Northgate Street, Grace Park Road, Bower View and Sean Costello Street. This is then supplemented by primary radial routes along streets such as Abbey Road, Assumption Road, Ballymahon Road, Lower Road, and Castlemaine Street. Additional primary routes are also proposed on the western and eastern extents of the town along streets such as R196 Woodville Avenue, Magazine Road, R362 Old Galway Road, R 446 Galway Road and R914 Roscommon Road. Locations that are served by these primary routes will include but not limited to: • Athlone Town Centre, Athlone Train Station, TUS Athlone campus, St Vincent's Hospital, Athlone Hospital, St Mary’s National School, Athlone Training Centre & Garrycastle GAA Club, Coláiste Chiaráin, Cornamaddy National School, Wansboro Field and Athlone Mixed National School

A number of secondary routes are also proposed along streets such as Assumption Road, Beech Park, Old Galway Road and Springwell Road. These are intended to act as interlinks to the orbital and radial routes in addition to serving locations that have not located on orbital or radial routes previously mentioned. Locations that are served by these secondary routes will include but not limited to: St. Peter’s National School, St. Paul’s National School, Dean Kelly National School, Athlone Town Stadium, Athlone Regional Sports Centre and Scoil na gCeithre Máistri

The draft proposals envisage an extensive cycling network across the 22 counties, complementing the cycling plans already developed for the Greater Dublin Area (Meath, Kildare, Wicklow and Dublin). Together these plans will create an overall comprehensive cycle network for Ireland.

Today’s proposals are in line with Action 28 of the Government’s “National Sustainable Mobility Action Plan 2022-2025”. They were developed following consultation with all local authorities and align with Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s (TII) proposed National Cycle Network.

The consultation process will remain open until Friday, November 11. You can have your say by visiting the National Transport Authority’s Consultation Portal.